Schoolhouse Quilters of Shrewsbury MA

 

I spoke at the Schoolhouse Quilters of Shrewsbury on Sunday. They had asked me to speak about my word quilts so I brought 17 of them, including both versions of the Rules quilts. Here I am pointing out the lady standing in for the letter I on the black version.

About four quilts in one lady at the back raised her hand and asked if my quilts were paper-pieced. I said they weren't, and that they weren't made with any patterns or templates either. She wanted to know how I did it. I wasn't quite sure how to answer, because to me it’s like breathing (meaning I don't think about it).

"I just take one piece of fabric, sew it to another one, press it, and then trim the edge if it isn't straight, then add the next piece and keep going..." I really didn't know what else to say. It wasn't a question I expected. 

I brought the quilt Julie Sefton made from my leftover bits and pieces. Here I am showing the original letters for the Daft Zebra quilt that did not work. "Just because letters don't fit in one project doesn't make them worthless," I pointed out.

Whenever I speak about my quilts I bring this flimsy I made of leftover letters and bits. I show the reverse, which is neat, primarily to dispel the notion that "free-pieced" is not sloppy workmanship.

The program coordinator wrote to me and said everyone in the guild had had a great time and they wanted me to come back for another talk or a workshop.

I had a good time.